Former international Alexis Palisson tops a stellar squad list for France as the defending World Rugby Classic champions aim to defend their crown for a second successive year.

Palisson, who made 21 appearances for his country between 2008 and 2012, is expected to be one of the standout stars of the 35th instalment of the tournament which gets underway with a double-header tonight with France taking on United States and Canada facing Ireland (8pm).

As well as the 36-year-old, France are also boosted by the returns of former flanker Florian Faure, scrum half Cedric Garcia, and Mathieu Amoros, all members of last year’s championship winning side.

Also present among the squad are a host of players who featured in top European competitions, at the peak of their playing careers.

These include Guillaume Bernad, a flanker who turned out for Bayonne, Fabien Alexandre and the highly experienced Jeremy Chaput, capped over 200 times by US Montauban.

Emmanuel Etien, who appeared for Clermont in the 2009 Heineken Cup is another former star the French will look to make an impact. The biggest threat for the French, who edged Argentina 21-20 in last year’s final, appears to be South Africa, a side who boast a World Cup winner among its ranks.

With excitement buzzing following the Springboks’ triumph against New Zealand in last Saturday’s World Cup final, their Classic counterparts will be going in search of their seventh title in Bermuda.

Hooker Bismarck du Plessis, capped 79 times by the Springboks, fly half Morne Steyn, who made 68 appearances in the green and gold, full back Zane Kirschner, capped 31 times, and Josh Strauss, whose international breakthrough came with Scotland, will be the among those aiming to guide South Africa to seal glory for South Africa for the first time since 2016.

The first test of strength for South Africa will come in the form of the Lions on Saturday.

Bryan Young, a former Ireland prop, whose front row skills earned him eight international caps, and nine appearances for Ireland A’ is the only former international fifteens player in the Lions side.